After finding out Wednesday that a 2-year-old had been killed by his family's pit bull, a relative grieves and a family friend makes a call. / Ben Gray, AP

by Michael King, WXIA-TV, Atlanta

by Michael King, WXIA-TV, Atlanta

UNION CITY, Ga. - A family dog who had never shown aggression before attacked and killed a 2-year-old boy Wednesday in a subdivision near here about 15 miles southwest of Atlanta, police said.

The mother, Angela Rutledge, and her son, Beau, were at home with their pit bull at about 1:30 p.m., investigators said. She told investigators that she left the room for a moment to go to the bathroom, but when she returned it was clear that the dog had attacked her son, killing him before she could call 911 for aid.

First responders were able to corral the dog in the bathroom until Animal Control officers arrived. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Clearly, they were rattled when they came out from what they saw," said Detective Melissa Parker of the Fulton County Police Department. "Some were in tears."

The grief-stricken Rutledge was taken to the hospital; her husband, Jermiah Rutledge, was subdued with a Taser after he came home and also became hysterical, police said.

The dog was taken to the Fulton County Animal Shelter, where it is being evaluated in isolation. Officers were not certain if the dog would be killed.

Police said Wednesday that no crime had been committed, and no charges had been filed as of Thursday.